Caught Stealing: Taut But Violent Thriller!

This film is an "under-the-radar" gem.  I think it's a "MUST-SEE!"  As a warning, it is violent, but the violence isn't gratuitous.  The movie is based on the 2005 novel of the same name by Charlie Huston, who also wrote the screenplay.  The ensemble cast is excellent, anchored by another fine performance by Austin Butler ("Elvis"), who I think is one of today's finest young actors.  The Director, Darren Aronofsky ("Black Swan"), deserves props too, since the performances from the ensemble cast are excellent. Hank (Butler) was a high school baseball phenom predicted to be picked at #15  in the first round of the MLB draft.  Unfortunately, a tragic accident, shortly before the draft, torpedoed his career.  Hank now works as a bartender, barely making ends meet.  He lives in the Lower East Side of NYC and has guilt and PTSD related to his accident.  He is haunted by fantasies of what might have been, if he had only made it to "The Show."  The one good thing he has going for him now is his smart and pretty girlfriend, Yvonne (Zoe Kravitz).  They have been dating for a while, and Yvonne wants to either get serious or break-up.  She would like to get serious with Hank, but she needs Hank to "have [his] shit together, or it's not happening." Hank lives in a low-class apartment, and his neighbors aren't doing any better than he is.  One English neighbor, who has become a friend, Russ (Matt Smith), needs to leave suddenly for England because his father just had stroke and is in critical condition.  Russ leaves his cat, Bud - who bites strangers - with Hank until he returns.  (By the way, Bud gives an AAW performance!)  Unbeknownst to Hank, Russ has stolen something extremely valuable, and two violent Russian gangsters nearly beat him to death trying to learn whether or not Hank knows where the stolen item is.  Furthermore, two even more dangerous mobsters, played by Liev Schreiber and Vincent D'Onofrio, are after it too.  After leaving the hospital subsequent to his beating (Against Medical Advice, due to lack of health insurance), in desperation, Hank turns to Roman, a Police Detective played by Regina Smith, for help.  She informs Hank that she has been on the trail of the two non-Russian mobsters for a while. The rest of the film is about Hank trying to stay alive and extricate himself from this extremely-dangerous situation.  The film has considerable suspense, a couple of curveballs, and occasional - quite funny - dark humor.  Robin and I really enjoyed it.  If you have nothing better planned, I recommend seeing it at the theater soon, since it isn't being marketed well and may not have much of a run.  If you see it, I guarantee you won't be angry with me for "stolen time!"